When Eric Screnock met his future wife, Angela, while working at a restaurant more than 15 years ago, he didn't know that some people had severe allergic reactions to gluten.

But as their relationship blossomed, the Stamford resident became adept at preparing gluten-free meals for Angela. Now he has used his experience and ingenuity to open That Awesome Deli & The Gluten Free Food Factory at 22 Belltown Road in Stamford.

Screnock, who has more than 20 years in the restaurant trade, opened the delicatessen last month and is developing a following among people who cannot tolerate gluten, a protein substance found in wheat and flour. Many of them suffer from Celiac disease, which can cause headaches, stomach aches and intestinal damage.

Assisted by Fernando Rosa, Screnock also offers selections with gluten for customers who do not suffer from the problem.

"Traditional breads are kept in a different area, and we use different utensils. They're different colors -- black and white," Screnock said. "We bake our own gluten-free bread."

Word is circulating about the deli, and customers are coming from other communities to buy gluten-free food.

"There's a `find gluten-free' phone app and a web site. I've had people come from Waterbury. They ask a million questions. I've had people crying, and a couple have brought gifts," said Screnock, who prepares frozen gluten-free entrees to go. "We have chicken marsala, eggplant parm, chicken francaise, Italian meatballs. We use a blast chiller and put them in microwavable containers."

Screnock admitted that he took a big step in opening the deli and giving up a steady job as an outboard motor mechanic.

"I've been dreaming of having my own place for 10 years, and in the last 1 ½ years I got very serious, scratching together all the money I had in the world," he said.

Stamford resident Theresa Fox learned about the new deli from a friend.

"My daughter and I both have Celiac disease. I purchase the hot food that he flash freezes. It's not easy to get a quick meal. It's important that we who have Celiac's eat safely," she said.

Though she doesn't have Celiac disease, Stamford resident Suzanne Rivera often orders a gluten-free meal and has told her friends who have the disease about the deli. "I have the gluten-free chicken marsala, which is out of this world," she said.

Hours are Mondays through Saturdays, 6 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Thursdays open until 7 p.m.